MLB insider suggests Vlad Guerrero extension created financial nightmare for Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres
MLB insider Jim Bowden believes that Vladimir Guerrero’s huge new extension just created a massive headache for teams like the Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres when they look to re-sign some of their best players this winter.
After months of trade speculation, the Toronto Blue Jays and top star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. came to terms on a new long-term contract extension. However, his massive 14-year, $500 million contract not only makes him the highest-paid player on the team but also makes him the third-highest-paid player in MLB based on total value (via Spotrac).
The Athletic MLB insider Jim Bowden believes it is terrible news for a variety of teams next winter when they try to retain some of their best players, because Guerrero Jr.’s contract has absurdly reset the market.
“I look at the rest of the market of players similar to Guerrero. I am going to look at Rafael Devers, Corey Seager, Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., [and] Aaron Judge. All of those guys’ [contracts] were between $300 and $365 million,” Bowden told the “Foul Territory” podcast. “All of them were in that little box. And now you just took that box and you put it at $500 million. I cannot argue now. I can’t sit there and tell Kyle Tucker, ‘No, you need to be paid where Betts and Judge were paid. No, Guerrero’s there now.
